Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 030
Chapter Title: Opportunity
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"Kaintrea, church."
"Can you kill all those fucking bastards?"
...
"Kuhahahahaha!!"
The Scorpion threw his head back and burst into mad laughter.
The room reverberated with his insane cackles.
He'd completely ditched the cool pose from moments ago,
tears streaming from his eyes as he clutched his belly and wheezed.
"Right... heh heh, is that what you want?"
"Funny? I'm dead serious."
"No, it's not funny. It's just so damn satisfying!"
The Scorpion looked down at me with gleaming eyes and declared firmly.
"Of course it's possible. Overturning the whole world means..."
He reached out and clenched his fist in the air.
"...dragging down every single one of those entitled pricks perched up high.
In the cruelest, most miserable way. We'll dry up their seed completely.
I'll smash those arrogant noses that let my daughter die into the mud."
A declaration laced with killing intent. At least, those words rang true.
His rage was genuine.
"I like the sound of that."
I nodded, forcing a greedy grin.
"And if we could make a shitload of money while we're at it, even better."
"What? Money?"
"I'm sick of starving."
The Scorpion nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Damn right! If you've lived without, it's only natural—a thirst you have to quench."
He spread his arms wide, showing off his room.
"Look at this. Everything in here.
The paintings on the walls, the carpet under your feet, even this sword. All top-grade stuff."
It definitely had a different sheen.
New money stench aside, it wasn't much different from the Kaintrea mansion's furnishings.
"All this... from selling that powder?"
"That's right."
"But... you said earlier you're just a lackey too."
I eyed him suspiciously.
"Don't you have to hand over all that money you make pushing the stuff to the bosses?"
"Hand over."
The Scorpion smirked and refilled his whiskey glass.
"Sure, we send some up. That's the deal."
"Then you don't keep much."
"Nah. 'They' aren't that into gold."
He took a swig of the amber liquid,
his face slightly flushed as he continued.
"What they want isn't coin—it's to rot this whole kingdom from the inside."
"Rot it?"
"Yeah. Addict it, corrupt it, bring it crashing down. That's their goal."
The Scorpion smiled in satisfaction.
"So we fund it, and whatever profit's left is mine."
My read on this guy was solidifying.
Motives: revolution and revenge.
Real deal: skimming.
Perfect setup for a corrupt knight—textbook embezzlement.
Stuff his own pockets,
while flipping off the world at the same time...
Fuck, this is...
This is a goddamn dream job, isn't it?
Looking back at past life gigs,
1. Getting screwed, 50k a day night shifts unloading
2. No base pay, tip-scraping waiter life
3. Five-day grind, manual labor Kim et al...
Even this life's jobs,
1. Back-alley brothel fixer
2. Stalker psycho's plaything
3. Old monster's errand boy cum debt-collecting kidnap hound
Across both lives, everything combined,
this felt like the slickest scout offer ever.
My head was spinning.
Already lightheaded from blood loss,
and now this sweet temptation...
"So, doubts cleared up now?"
"Yeah, it's perfect for me."
The Scorpion set down his glass and extended his hand again.
His eyes burned with even more conviction, excitement palpable.
"There, it's settled.
We're aiming the same way. Same enemies, same desires."
He stepped closer.
"Take my hand again. Kaintrea's scourge..."
"Leon."
"...right, Leon.
With me, you'll get revenge, money—everything you want."
An irresistible offer.
What slum rat could turn down sweeter bait?
Clack.
I barely lifted my mangled shoulder and gripped his hand.
His callused, rough palm met my flayed, bloody one.
"...Thanks. For the opportunity."
"Heh... thanks nothing."
"So, what's your name?"
I gave, so now you give.
"......Barmun."
He squeezed my hand, a bitter smile twisting his lips.
"Used to have a family name after it... but that's all gone now."
I rolled the name around in my mouth.
Not exactly catchy.
"Got it. Nice to meet you, Barmun."
I squeezed back, hard as I could.
"And farewell, Barmun."
In that split second his eyes flickered with confusion,
slash—!
A black shadow erupted from the air behind his back.
"......?"
The Scorpion's eyes bulged.
Hot, wet something gushed from below his neck.
Gurgle—!
Blood sprayed to the ceiling.
Only then did he claw at his throat.
But I held his hand tight, wouldn't let go.
"Grk, guh... ack...!"
"Haa... fuck, should've jumped in sooner."
"Whining about saving your ass, employer."
Hiss... wheeze... gurgle...
Just tire-burst hisses from his slashed windpipe.
His eyes darted disbelievingly to his back.
There stood
"Knew you'd pull something, you dogshit employer."
Baekrin, casually flicking blood from her curved blade, face impassive.
...
I'd clocked Baekrin's presence
right after opening my eyes earlier.
[ ...Hate the nobles? ]
The Scorpion eyeing me with that creepy pervert stare.
And over his shoulder, up on the dark ceiling corner,
a gray shadow hanging bat-like, upside down, watching me boredly.
......Huh?
Why the hell's she up there?
......Eh, whatever.
That moment, something in me deflated.
I'd braced for a clean execution, accepted death on my terms.
After that, I ignored the ceiling as best I could,
and when he offered his hand again, I took it and said,
Thanks. For the opportunity.
"......Guhk, grrrk... aaagh......"
Barmun—no, just the Scorpion—rolled on the floor, blood bubbling from his throat...
Now I looked down at him.
"That's how it is. Shame, but we can't team up."
"Guhk... guhk... you... liar... guhk...!"
Liar?
I didn't lie once.
"I do hate nobles. Want big money for real.
Your offer's a killer deal for me too."
Even my name being Leon's true,
thanks for the chance—real.
Rethink it, not a single fib.
"Grrk... then why... ugh... why......"
Oh, right.
Everything he said hit just right,
so why the backstab...
Well...
[ Not like Mom, selling her body. ]
[ Someone better. ]
Dead ages ago,
and this bitch still popping up.
Team up with these guys,
drug girls and gangbang 'em...
She'd flip out for sure.
Sigh, fuck, if not for her whore mom hangup.
That revolution gig was perfect for me.
Feels like kicking away a golden chance... hell, it was.
"I thought it was fine.
She just popped out and ruined it."
"What a sight, employer."
No reason to spill why, even if asked.
No matter he's dying anyway.
"......Guhk, ah....... grrrk, ominous... fire...
The fire... will burn... guhk......."
With that cryptic bullshit, the Scorpion croaked.
I collapsed right there too.
Tension gone, pain tsunami-hit every inch.
"Haa... haa... see that...
I played dogshit on purpose."
"Bullshit. Nearly died for real."
Baekrin snorted,
rifling the corpse for keys.
Riiip—squish!
I tore at my clothes, staunching what I could.
God, wanted to pass out, sleep it off...
But that'd kill me.
This exhaustion wasn't sleep calling—blood loss screaming death imminent. I knew best.
Skip the minors,
bit my lip bloody tying my shoulder tight,
grunting through side and chest wounds somehow.
"Fuck... my arm,"
Arm was hopeless solo.
Time for help.
"Hey, you bitch! Drop the safe later! Help me first!"
Baekrin popped her head from under the table,
where she'd found the safe, picking away.
"Business."
"......Huh?"
"Head's off, contract done. Right?"
Unbelievable.
Using my own lines to draw the line.
In this mess.
"You psycho bitch... Hey! I'm dying! Can't you see the blood?!"
"Your problem... ex-employer."
Her head ducked back under.
Click, clack...
Keys turning sounded like my lifeline snapping.
"You fucking bitch Baekrin! Extra pay!"
I bellowed.
"1 gold! One more gold if you save me now!!"
Then,
"Should've said that sooner."
She finally stood, strode over.
Rummaged her pouch, pulled needle and thread.
"......Hey, wait. What's that for..."
"Stitch you up. It's split open."
Baekrin grabbed my shredded forearm.
I got what she planned.
Yeah, I got it, but
antiseptic?
Anesthetic?
Threading the needle, she said flatly,
"Bite down hard."
Stab!
No hesitation.
This fucking bitch jammed the sail needle into my flesh.
"Gaaaaahhh!!!!"
I screamed the room down.
The needle piercing live meat felt horrifyingly vivid.
Vision whited out, cold sweat poured like falls.
"Shut up. Hands shaking."
"You hack... quack bitch! Gentle... urk!!"
Shick, shick.
Her hands were fast.
Problem: less surgery, more sewing a busted doll.
"Sutured. Done."
"Haa... haa... you... just you wait..."
Baekrin bit the thread, knotted it.
My arm sported centipede-crawl scars, ugly,
but miraculously, bleeding stopped.
"Urgh... hurts like hell, for real......"
"Hm."
Now she gripped the spear shaft in my thigh.
I panicked, grabbed her hand.
"......Leave that."
"One."
"Wait! Pull that and blood gushes! Prep to staunch fir—"
"Two."
"Hey! Don't!!"
Grip.
Baekrin tightened on the shaft.
I realized.
She wasn't listening,
just counting down.
"Three!"
Incoming~
Squelch—!
"Kaaaaah—!!!!"
Blade out, red fountain erupted.
I thrashed, clawing the floor. Eyes rolled back.
"Fuck, all over."
Baekrin muttered blandly,
shoved pre-torn cloth wads roughly into the hole.
Staunching... at least she staunched.
Call it staunch, felt like torture.
"Mmph... ughhh... you... fu... bitch Baekrin... I'll kill you......"
"Tsk tsk. Got a dick, still such a wuss."
Did this brute fix save me,
or hasten doom? No telling.
At least, no more sleepiness.
Pain too brutal.
And rage boiling from this bitch.
"Fuuu... ck Baekrin... you, I'll..."
I glared, twisting my face max menace.
She stared back blankly,
"...Now I see your face proper."
Baekrin wiped bloody hands on my rags,
covered her mouth with one.
"Employer, you're ugly as fuck."
Ah...
Pop. Spurt—!
Arm freshly stitched,
yet
blood flowed again.